Monday morning bright and early (it's a common theme) we were on the bus starting our jam packed day of three site visits. Our first stop was Barco. At the beginning of this trip I had absolutely no idea what Barco was until one of the University professors pointed out the logo on the projector in the classroom. So great.. Our site visit was going to be at a place that makes projectors… Definitely can't say that I was super excited about this one but man, I was so so wrong.
This was one of the cooler site visits that we've been too. Barco has 6 different sectors that they work with. They do a corporate office side (where the projectors come in) but they also have other focuses.
Air-space technology: They make the screens for airplanes, control towers and security systems. They have a lot of awesome functions for specific scenarios. The airplane systems have special contrasting light and heat systems so that a pilot can still read the gps when they are close to the sun.
Healthcare: They make doctor and dental displays, network systems for operating rooms, and bedside entertainment systems.
Advertising: Large scale billboards and smaller interactive advertisements. This sector also included displays for concerts including One Direction
Entertainment: Theatre screens! Also, the coolest part was Barco's 3D sound that they're beginning to introduce into movie theaters. The twenty minute display absolutely blew my mind. Soooo cool.
This room had some examples of their capabilities.
Simply, Barco rocked.
(We later saw Barco computer networks in the air traffic control room at FedEx Paris)
Barco kindly provided us all with sandwiches for lunch before we boarded the bus yet again for another site visit, this time to Filliers.
As opposed to Barco, I did have an idea of what Filliers was: Genievre.
Pronounced "Gin-eve-er", this is a traditional liquor of Belgium.
The first night of the trip our professor suggested that we head to the Genievre bar and try it out. It's a flavored alcohol, the list had about 50 different flavors. It comes in a shot glass but you sip it slowly.
Though this is considered to be the Dutch version of gin, it is very different. Genievre is a juniper flavored alcohol and it can only be made in two regions of Europe. Filliers is one of the only Genievre distilleries that is able to make O'de Flander Genievre.
The lab! It reminded me a lot of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory! This is where they create new flavors of the Genievre in order to be competitive on the market.
Genievre needs to be completely clear before flavoring can be added. This shows the process through time.
Filliers bourbon!
The bottling process.
Our "confrontation with the product" started at 2:00. It consisted of two shots, first of Elder Flower and second of Melon. Next was an Genievre custard, last was a thicker vanilla Genievre drink. We all got on the bus after and headed to our next site visit at a Church….
Another Church!
At least this time it was Anglican so it was interesting to hear a different history.
Go USA
It felt appropriate to be seeing an American Flag on Memorial Day
After that we searched for dinner on our own and hit up Wok 2 Go. That was going to be our last dinner in Antwerp for almost a week!
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